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RUDN University students are invited to participate in the 2026 Global Design for the Future Competition.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

RUDN University students can test their skills in the Global Design for the Future Competition (GCD4F 2026). Applications are accepted until April 30th.

The competition is an international event organized by Beijing Normal University and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE). It has been held since 2018 and is recognized as one of the key annual events of the World Alliance for Digital Education. Over the years, the competition has attracted over 25,000 participants from over 40 countries, who submitted over 3,000 innovative project proposals dedicated to promising solutions in education.

This year, participants are invited to develop innovative AI-based solutions aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals across three themes:

AI for Science – creating interdisciplinary research paradigms based on AI, developing new platforms, methods, and models of collaboration to accelerate scientific discoveries (climatology, pharmaceutical research, sustainable materials, energy). AI for Education – exploring the future of AI, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all (personalization of learning, transformation of teaching and student assessment, support for marginalized groups and students with disabilities, integration of education in the field of health and well-being). AI for Society – creating a more sustainable, equitable, and human-centered society with AI (improving mental health, sustainable urban governance, judicial justice, civic participation). An international jury (university experts, industry leaders, representatives of solution beneficiaries) will evaluate the works according to five criteria: problem awareness, innovative spirit, technology for good, application prospects, presentation, and expression.

Who can participate?

The competition is open to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from all academic disciplines at universities worldwide. Participants must form teams of 3–5 people; cross-national, cross-institutional, and cross-disciplinary teams are encouraged.

Each team is recommended to have at least one member fluent in English (all submitted materials and presentations must be in English). Participation in the competition and all its events are free. However, students are responsible for covering their own personal expenses (transportation, accommodation).

Competition Stages The competition will be held from January to October 2026 in three stages.

Initial stage (January–May 2026, online): team formation and registration, development and submission of preliminary work.

Team registration will close at 6:00 PM (Beijing time) on April 30. Participants' submissions (a 5-minute video and design report) will be accepted until 6:00 PM (Beijing time) on May 31. During this period, participants are encouraged to join a series of online sessions organized by the competition committee, including competition briefings, expert lectures, and presentations of outstanding work.

Regional selection (June-July 2026, online or offline): evaluation of initial stage work, project refinement, pitching. Participants will submit an updated video, report, and presentation of their AI solutions. The best teams will advance to the finals. Global final (October 2026, in person in Beijing or Paris): pitching, Global Student Forum. Finalists will present final materials (video, presentation, design report, posters, and, if available, a prototype or demo version of the solution). Based on the results of the pitching, the winners will be selected and awarded.

What are the benefits of participating in the competition?

Awards, certificates, and recognition from Beijing Normal University and UNESCO IITE. All participants who advance to the regional finals or the global finals will receive certificates. Winners will receive a cash prize. Opportunities to participate in events related to the World Alliance for Digital Education and conferences hosted by Beijing Normal University, such as the 2026 Global Intelligent Education Conference, will be available. Selected team submissions will be included in the competition's casebook, published by Springer, and archived in the UNESCO IITE Digital Library as examples of global best practices. Career development opportunities include access to the UNESCO Youth Talent Program on AI in Education, letters of recommendation, and internship offers. Opportunities for further recognition, including potential patents, publications, or intellectual property development.

How to register

You can register and submit materials for the competition through the official website: http://gtsd4fe.bnu.edu.kn/en/index.html.

All necessary document templates for submitting applications are available for download on the website in the "Details" section.

If you don't have access to the website, you can register for the competition by sending a request to the organizing committee's email address: d4fe@bnu.edu.kn.

Contact phone number: 86-010-58807206; 86-010-58807208.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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The Russian Ministry of Education and Science is holding a strategic session at RUDN University on the future of the admissions campaign.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

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The Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education is hosting a strategic session titled "Admissions Without Borders: From Design to Enrollment" at RUDN University.

The event brought together leading experts in higher education and heads of relevant agencies for a comprehensive discussion of key aspects of the admissions campaign. More than 700 representatives from universities and research organizations are participating, as well as representatives from federal executive bodies—the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, and the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science. The strategic session will run until March 14.

Online admission

Participants focused on key issues related to the admissions process: current regulatory changes, mechanisms for implementing targeted training, the distribution of fee-paying places, and the admission of international students. Discussions focused on the functionality of the "Online University Admissions" service and the search for effective tools for providing information support to applicants at all stages.

"The Russian Ministry of Education and Science is systematically developing the 'Online University Admissions' service. In the new year, we will focus on adapting the rules to different situations, making the system even more understandable and convenient for applicants, including those from other countries and those applying based on a portfolio. A steady trend toward digital document submission is emerging, and we are seeing positive feedback from organizations and students about the ease of use of the service," said Andrey Omelchuk, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Russia.

"Digital admissions is now becoming a key tool for managing the personnel training system. It allows us to see in real time which programs applicants are choosing, how demand for professions is changing, and how student flows are distributed across regions. This data forms the basis for strategic decision-making in the areas of employment and human capital development," said Yan Talbatsky, Deputy Head of Rostrud.

Strategic guidelines

The three-day workshop will result in the development of proposals for the future of admissions campaign tools and strategic guidelines for 2027, including the automation of admissions processes, the expansion of the "Online University Admission" service, the development of flexible targeted admissions mechanisms, and the implementation of personalized digital tools to support applicants.

"RUDN University is honored to host the Russian Ministry of Education and Science's strategic session on university admissions for the second year in a row. Digital services are becoming an important part of RUDN University's admissions campaign: in 2025, we received a record number of applications—194,186, a 67% increase from the previous year. Over 40% of applicants submitted their documents through the 'Online University Admissions' service, and the first application for the admissions campaign was submitted just 36 seconds after it began," said Oleg Yastrebov, Rector of RUDN University.

It is expected that the developed initiatives will create a more convenient, transparent, and effective admissions system that meets modern challenges and strategic objectives for the development of higher education.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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UN Secretary-General: Middle East under pressure that could "lead to collapse"

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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March 12, 2026 Peace and security

The UN Secretary-General on Thursday called on all parties to the conflict in the Middle East to cease hostilities, respect international law, protect civilians and immediately return to the negotiating table.

"We hear a lot of talk about peace, but we see catastrophically little of it," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres at a ceremony in Turkey accepting the Atatürk International Peace Prize. "International law continues to be flouted, power politics is gaining momentum, and inequality is growing. New technologies, including artificial intelligence, pose risks and have the potential to spread violence rather than prevent it. Military spending is skyrocketing, while vital humanitarian aid is being cut to critically low levels."

Unacceptable price

At the same time, the UN chief emphasized, civilians continue to pay the highest price, and the unfolding crisis in the Middle East, according to him, serves as a tragic example of this.

"The massive strikes carried out by the US and Israel, and Iran's subsequent attacks on numerous countries, pose a grave threat to international peace and security. They have already caused enormous suffering among civilians," Guterres emphasized. "The region is under intense pressure that could lead to its collapse."

The consequences, according to the Secretary-General, are spreading across the globe: trade chains are being disrupted, energy and food prices are rising, and instability is growing. The only way forward, Guterres emphasized, is through de-escalation and dialogue.

Peace Prize

The Secretary-General's visit to Turkey is another gesture of solidarity with Muslim countries during the holy month of Ramadan, which has become an annual personal tradition for António Guterres.

"These visits are a powerful reminder to the world of the true spirit of Islam, which is compassion, unity, and empathy," he said. "This Ramadan, I felt especially strongly that my solidarity visit should bring me here to Turkey. I came to draw the world's attention to the exceptional and generous spirit of the Turkish people."

Guterres accepted the Atatürk International Peace Prize on behalf of all United Nations staff. In his speech, he recognized their efforts to provide humanitarian aid and maintain peace around the world and paid tribute to those killed in humanitarian work, including those of the UN in Gaza.

“Let’s give peace a chance together,” he concluded.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Lightning: The US Secretary of Defense stated that D. Trump will determine the timing of the end of the conflict with Iran – media

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Xinhua | March 13, 2026

Keywords: USA-Iran

Source: Xinhua

Lightning: The US Secretary of Defense stated that D. Trump will determine the timing of the end of the conflict with Iran – media. Lightning: The US Secretary of Defense stated that D. Trump will determine the timing of the end of the conflict with Iran – media.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Iraqi forces claimed to have shot down a US KC-135 tanker aircraft.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Baghdad, March 13 (Xinhua) — The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group of Iranian-backed militias, said on Friday that its fighters attacked two U.S. KC-135 tanker aircraft over western Iraq.

Two statements from the group said the militants shot down one KC-135 "using suitable weapons" and fired at a second aircraft of the same type, but its crew was able to make an emergency landing at "one of the enemy airports."

The group stressed that the fire was opened to defend Iraqi sovereignty and airspace, “which were violated by occupation force aircraft.”

In another statement, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq said its fighters had carried out 31 operations using dozens of drones and missiles against "occupation bases in Iraq and the region" over the past 24 hours.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that a U.S. KC-135 tanker aircraft crashed in western Iraq. "Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One crashed in western Iraq, while the other landed safely," the statement read.

Tensions in the region have escalated since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28, to which Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and US targets in the Middle East. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Seven people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Russia's Penza region.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, March 13 (Xinhua) – Seven people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Russia's Penza region, and a criminal case has been opened. The Russian Investigative Committee press service reported this on Friday.

The bodies were discovered on March 13 in an apartment building in the village of Zarechnaya in the Mokshansky District. An examination revealed no injuries. Preliminary reports indicate the cause of the accident was gas equipment. Forensic examinations have been ordered.

A criminal case has been opened for causing death by negligence. The technical condition of the gas equipment in the residential premises, as well as the conditions of its operation and maintenance, will be investigated. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Russia hopes for continuation of trilateral talks on Ukraine – D. Peskov

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, March 13 (Xinhua) – Russia hopes to continue trilateral talks on a Ukrainian settlement, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing on Friday.

“We hope that the next round will take place, but for now we have nothing to announce about specific agreements regarding the date and time of its holding,” he said.

According to the press secretary, Russia currently has no concerns that the war in Iran will distract the US from the Ukrainian settlement. "Our contacts with our American counterparts provide no grounds for such doubts," the Kremlin spokesman added.

D. Peskov also noted that Russia highly values the United States' willingness to assist in the Ukrainian settlement. "We continue to highly value the United States' willingness to mediate in the search for a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis," he emphasized.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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China's passenger traffic during the Chunyun period reached a record high of 9.4 billion person-times.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) — China's interregional passenger trips during the 40-day Spring Festival holiday, Chunyun, which ended Friday, are expected to reach a record 9.4 billion, data from the Ministry of Transport showed Friday.

Road passenger traffic reached approximately 8.74 billion trips, making it the busiest mode of transport. Rail passenger traffic totaled 538 million trips, air passenger traffic totaled 94.39 million trips, and water transport accounted for 35.95 million trips.

The Chunyun period, often considered the world's largest annual human migration, highlights China's immense mobility and vibrant economic activity. This year, the Spring Festival fell on February 17th, traditionally an occasion for family reunions and tourism.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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More than 19,000 China-Europe trains have passed through the Khorgos railway checkpoint in Xinjiang since 2016.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

URUMQI, March 13 (Xinhua) — Since March 2016, more than 19,000 trains have passed through the Horgos railway checkpoint in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), carrying international freight between China and Europe, according to statistics from the Horgos station of the Urumqi branch of China Railways (CR).

Trains traveling along the Western China-Europe Rail Freight Corridor exit China through the Alashankou and Khorgos border crossings in Xinjiang. This is a key rail freight corridor connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe. Over the past decade, Khorgos has become one of the busiest border crossings in China serving China-Europe trains.

The range of goods carried on China-Europe trains passing through the Khorgos checkpoint is constantly being optimized. The product range comprises over 200 items, gradually expanding from everyday items, textiles, and clothing to electromechanical equipment, new energy vehicles, electronic products, agricultural products, and by-products.

"China-Europe rail freight transport is highly efficient, low-cost, and highly stable—it is our preferred logistics method for expanding the European market," said a representative of a Xinjiang freight forwarding company.

The steady increase in the number of trains handled is due to ongoing improvements in customs clearance and increased operational efficiency at the checkpoint. In recent years, the Khorgos checkpoint administration has implemented an innovative customs clearance model integrating the resources of customs, border, and railway agencies, which has increased train handling efficiency by more than 20 percent.

As a reminder, in 2025, both the number of China-Europe/Central Asia trains passing through the Horgos border crossing and the volume of cargo they carried set a new all-time record. For the eighth consecutive year, the Horgos border crossing ranked first among 19 border crossings in Xinjiang focused on opening up to the outside world in terms of foreign trade cargo turnover.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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A semi-wild breeding base helps restore aquatic bioresources in the Yangtze River.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

The Dazhou Fisheries Research Institute's base, located in the Wanzhou District of Chongqing, is the semi-wild hatchery base for the "Chongqing Release Point for Restocking the Upper Yangtze River National Nature Reserve of Rare and Endemic Fish Species." Currently, 32 cages with a total area of approximately 800 square meters are established here. More than 20 rare and endemic species, as well as commercially valuable fish species, are stocked, including Chinese sturgeon, mandarin minnow, and stone carp. The annual production capacity of juvenile fish of valuable and rare species in the Upper Yangtze River region exceeds 20 million.

In recent years, this base has been steadily strengthening short-term adaptation training in semi-wild conditions for fry released into natural waters, and has also intensified efforts to preserve and breed the gene pool of fish in the Yangtze River, effectively contributing to the conservation of the biodiversity of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.